Liam went on a harvesting frenzy. It had been a long time since he felt such enthusiasm. With the help of Ordinance and the system abilities, he plundered all the valuable herbs in sight.

He moved fast and efficiently, even collecting edible plants as well. Anything Ordinance highlighted of value, Liam stuffed into his miniature world. He picked up so much, he no longer bothered trying to keep them alive and whole. He plucked them and placed them into his inventory.

The sun was starting to lean but it was not yet setting. Liam had already made it deep into the Gonda Forest. His map showed no further. He came across the limits where his father and mother would venture. They warned him never to cross past the area. Dangerous beasts and monsters lurked on the other side, and a dungeon laid further in.

However, Liam felt confident. With Ordinance’s detection abilities Liam ventured further into the Forest of Gonda and swiped everything in his path. His inventory was full, so Liam had to toss everything else inside his miniature world.

“Let’s head back. This is more than enough. I’ve never seen so many precious herbs at one time. I don’t think we even need to grow anything. If we sold just what we found we would have more than enough to sell to cover the damn merchant’s contract.”

“Be on alert master! We should hurry! There seems to be something coming this way. A person in a cloak was detected entering in range.”

Liam instantly knew who it was. A heathen. With no hesitation, Liam bolted back to the safety of the kingdom.

Liam was gone from the area before a hooded cloaked figure of a appeared in the same area he was at.

The figure took off her hood, revealing a beautiful young woman of a similar age to Liam. Her ink black hair reflected the sunlight. Had she smiled she would have drawn countless admirers.

However, her beautiful emerald eyes were cold and serious. They cautiously eyed the area. Her full lips tightened and her straight nose twitched as she hesitantly moved around. She took out a dagger, gleaming in sharpness, to protect herself or to kill a foe. She knew someone had just been in the same area.

But the ruthless killer was yet to be fully ingrained into her. She was new to the dungeon. She was a newly made dungeon diver, just like Liam was a new tower climber.

“What is it, Leyah?”

A larger cloaked figure walked out from the trees where she came from.

“Nothing brother, Elijah. Just a weak Tack or a Tower Infidel. It scurried away.”

“You should not underestimate anything lurking in the Wild. Especially if it was a Tower Infidel. We are mortal enemies. If you see one do not hesitate to kill them, or you will be killed instead. Those bastards act all righteous, but they can be just as cruel as those of the dungeon divers. You should learn to be wary of them all. Your summon may be powerful, but remember. There will always be someone more powerful.”

“Yes brother.”

She looked in the direction Liam ran off to, wary and more cautious.

She never questioned her older brother. He raised her alone. He was a powerful dungeon diver who had traveled to the lower floors. He taught her how to survive, and save her from the horrid life of a non-diver.

“Let’s return. I only wanted to show you some useful herbs. There seems to be none left in the area. I’ll take you to the Wilds on the other side of the dungeon. The Kingdom of Santhel is a bit further and their citizens don’t venture so daringly like those of the Kingdom of Lazar. There should be plenty of herbs over there.”

“Yes brother.” Leyah followed her brother back to the dungeon, but she kept glancing back in the direction Liam had left.

Liam rushed back and made it to the wall by sunset, letting him know he was safe.

He had a feeling someone was constantly looking at him, but there was no one in sight. The safety of the walls gave him comfort. He waved to the guard to let him know he made it back safely.

Liam wasn’t done for the day. He decided to sell all the ones in his inventory.

Liam went to the empty ally of the bustling business district of the kingdom. Taking out a herb, he sold it for a couple large sacks. He went back to the alley and filled them up with all his gathered herbs.

There was an apothecary that his family regularly sold their findings to.

Hauling the two full sacks over his shoulder, he walked a bit slower due to the weight. He entered a clean and simple building with a plaque that read, “Wayne’s Potions and Herbs.”

“Liam! I heard the awful news! Is your father ok? I can give you potions on the house!”

The smooth beardless and mustacheless man behind the counter was Liam’s confidant. They both shared Liam’s self-image struggles of being unable to grow full beards and mustaches. The man had long given up and accepted his fate as a beardless man.

“Wayne! I appreciate your help. Dad is stable for now, I do want to get a better potion, but I should have enough to pay for it. Can you look through these herbs I brought and see if you want any of them?” Liam placed the sacks of herbs with a thud on the counter before Wayne.

Wayne’s clean cut appearance and large eyes went wide with shock. His princely face was surprised at the bags that his regular suppliers’ son brought in.

“What’s all this? Are they all herbs?”

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“That’s right Wayne! Check them out! Aren’t I awesome! Luke would never be able to pick this much!” Liam was proud of his achievements. There was at least one thing he could do better than his hairy friend.

“I don’t think anyone can! You’ve probably picked the most I’ve seen since opening this place of mine. You should bring them to me fresh, you know? Keeping stock of them will degrade their value. I can get you a better deal that way.”

“But they are new! I picked them all today! Just now to be exact.” Liam knew Wayne would be surprised, but Wayne couldn’t believe it.

“Who are you trying to fool!? You know you can pull one over me. I’m an expert in this field. I’ll take it as a joke.”

Liam smirked. “Look to see if I’m joking.”

A questioning look was plastered on Wayne’s handsome face. “You better not be pranking me boy! I’ll get your dad to get you a whooping!”

Liam grinned and said nothing. He wanted to enjoy the going-to-be frazzled face of the merchant. And he did, with his grin turning into an uncontrollable laughter.

“No way! How?! This isn’t possible! Not even a veteran could find all these!!!” The more Wayne pulled out from the sack, the more he was shocked. “By the gods! It’s a Late Sandil! How far did you go Liam to find these?! Wow! Look at the pink of this Lilytoad!”

Liam was satisfied until Wayne’s next comment. Wayne was going to get some payback from Liam laughing at him.

“I’m going to have to tell your parents about this. Did you have a helper to get all these? You ventured closer to the dungeon, didn’t you?”

Liam blurted out in worry.

“You can’t Wayne! You know how worried my mom is already with my dad’s bad injuries! Besides, I’m an adult, and an official climber of the tower now! This is a transaction between men!”

“Don’t talk about being a man just yet, boy! You haven’t even grown your hairs yet!”

“How could you, Wayne! I thought we were friends without hair together! How could you betray me?!” Liam semi-joked, but Wayne knew him well and played along.

“I’m friends with your father. You're like a son to me too! I don’t want you to get hurt is all. Wait until you grow some real hair first the we can talk about you being a man.”

“Then we’ll both be boys forever! I’ll end up just like you. Beardless and Mustacheless. There’s no hope.”

Liam laughed.

“Some of us are just born lucky. You, little brat. You and I aren’t lucky. Alright! Enough with your poking fun at my lack of a beard. I’ll take all of your herbs for 1 middle and a half grade origin crystals and a medium healing potion.”

“Isn’t that a lot, Wayne? Isn’t that 150 low grade crystals? I was thinking at most 80 low grade crystals.”

“The quality and freshness is worth it. Don’t worry about me, poor boy. You can start negotiating when you become a man. Now get! Go use that potion and heal your dad! I got lots of work cut out for me now, with the amount you just brought me.”

“Thanks Wayne! I appreciate you helping me and my family out. I’ll remember this favor!”

Liam ran out of the store as Wayne watched. “Little brat dared to poke fun at my hairlessness. He’s growing to be just like you, Leon. Make a full recovery. Your family needs you.”

Liam was excited. He’s never seen a middle grade crystal before, but now he had one and a good healing potion too. He wanted to return home right away, but had some unfinished business to complete first.

An exuberant multi-floored building stood majestically on one of the busy main cobblestone streets of the business district. A large plaque made from precious onyx and fancy writing engraved gold read,

“Fortuna Guild”

“Gatherers of Fortune”

It had not been one day, but Liam was already stepping into the snazzy halls of the Fortuna Guild. Out of the three guilds, the Fortuna Guild was the most wealthy. And they loved to show off their wealth. The hardwood floors were a deep jade green. Columns were chiseled from limestone to imitate the magical ivory stone of the tower. Fine colorful works of art were displayed all around the foyer. It was rather disorderly and compacted, but the Fortuna guild was about quality and quantity. The piles of treasures were a display of their wealth to all who entered.

Liam was rather jealous. Out of the three guilds, he had the most affinity for Fortuna due to their focus on wealth. However, he ignored the distracting valuables and walked up to the empty counter. He walked up to the receptionist and asked for his contract his mother and the merchant just made.

“I would like to pay off a debt contract made in the name of Kanna and Leon Tarliot.” The receptionist was very professional and immediately handled his request.

“Of course. I will look for your contract right away. Please wait a moment while I go and find the contract.”

Liam nodded. The lady receptionist walked back to a room full of documents to find his parent’s contract. While looking around at the expensive pieces as he waited, Liam noticed a sign advertising access to the Fortuna’s library for a daily fee. Thoughts wheeled in his mind as he noted the sign.

“I have found your contract. As a day has yet to pass, there will be no interest charges if you pay the full 5 low grade origin crystals now.”

“Yes!” Liam handed over a half middle grade origin crystal, and received back 45 low grade crystals. However, he still had one thing to find out before leaving. “Can you tell me who the merchant was and what business he does?”

“I am sorry, but that information is restricted.”

Liam placed down 2 low grade energy crystals. He bribed the receptionist. She subtly glanced around.

Noticing no one paid attention, she pocketed the crystals acting as if handling a normal transaction and whispered, “He’s a merchant called Flatu from the nearby Kingdom of Santhel. He has a potion shop here with a permit from our kingdom. There’s many complaints against his shop called, “Divine Potions.”

Liam smiled, “thank you. That will be all.”

Liam noted through his mind to Ordinance.

“Remember the information Ordinance. Oh and note that advertisement sign about the Fortuna Guild’s library. It should prove useful.”

“Yes, of course master.”

Liam thought of how to get his revenge, but that was no longer a priority and could wait. Liam went around the business district and bought food his parents would never splurge on. He bought the skewers he was fascinated with as a boy when he was 10 years old. He stocked up on meats and vegetables, placing them into his sack he bought for selling his herbs.

Money comes and goes as Liam spent 40 low grade crystals on items that his family had always wanted. He bought cooking spices and utensils that he had longed for. He got his mom a pair of earrings he noticed she had been eyeing for years now, and he also got the new leather armor his father had been raving about for weeks.

With another two bags full, he went back home to surprise his parents. Thanks to Ordinance, he was able to start fulfilling his dreams.

“Ordinance. I am forever in your debt. I’m sorry if I ever doubted you. You have saved me and my family.”

“I too am grateful for you taking me in when I was alone and broken. I would have faded into nothing. Pershing with regret. Master, you gave me a second chance.”